Smyrna Board of Education sets property tax referendum for Feb. 22

Tuesday

Dec 17, 2013 at 10:42 AM

The Smyrna School District Board of Education voted 4-0 Monday night to hold a referendum on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a proposed property tax increase. If approved by district residents, the funds would be used for building upgrades and day-to-day expenses like salaries, utilities, and classroom supplies.

Ben Mace

The Smyrna School District Board of Education voted 4-0 Monday night to hold a referendum on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a proposed property tax increase. Board members Christine Malec, Vetra Evans, Ron Eby, and Kristi Lloyd all voted yes during the meeting at Sunnyside Elementary. Board member Jeff Clark was absent, attending his daughter's band concert.

District residents ages 18 and up will be eligible to vote on the plan which would raise funds for building upgrades and for day-to-day expenses like salaries, utilities, and classroom supplies.

Building improvements are proposed for Smyrna Elementary, North Smyrna Elementary, John Bassett Moore Intermediate School, and the Thomas D. Clayton administration building. Plans include partial roof replacements and security cameras at multiple buildings, a fire sprinkler system and new lighting at North Smyrna, interior renovations at the administration building, a handicapped accessible ramp at JBM, and a kitchen expansion and new parking lot at Smyrna Elementary.

The property tax hike on a home with a market value of $200,000 would be about $92 per year in the first year, and then another $20 in the second year for a total of $112, said Smyrna School District Finance Director Jerry Gallagher.

After that, the property tax rate would decrease slightly each year.

About $85 of the increase is for the day-to-day expenses. The portion for building upgrades is about $7 in the first year, and about $27 in the second year.

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